Armen Gilliam Dies At Age Of 47
Pittsburgh (KDKA)- One of the best basketball players from Western Pennsylvania has died.
Bethel Park native Armen Gilliam died Tuesday night while playing basketball at the L.A. Fitness in Bridgeville.
Gilliam was taken to a local hospital and was pronounced dead at 9:28 p.m., according to the Allegheny County coroner's office.
Gilliam was only 47 years old.
Gilliam (born May 28, 1964, Bethel Park, Pennsylvania) nicknamed "The Hammer", played 13 years in the NBA (1987–2000). He was the second overall pick by the Phoenix Suns in the 1987 NBA Draft.
Gilliam played for UNLV from (1983–87)and was an integral part of a team that was 93-11 in the 3 years he played for the UNLV Rebels.
Gilliam was inducted into the Bethel Park Hall of Fame for the Sport of Basketball in 1997 and the UNLV Hall of Fame in 1998. He was selected to the Division 1 All- American Team in 1987 and was a finalist for the John Wooden award the same year.
In November 2007, his college jersey (#35) was retired at half-time of the UNLV vs. Wasburn University game in Las Vegas.
In the 2001, Gilliam was named head coach of Penn State McKeesport's men's basketball team. The next year Gilliam accepted the Head Men's coaching position at Penn State Altoona and officially started on September 1, 2003.
Gilliam came out of retirement in 2005 and was a player/coach for the Pittsburgh Xplosion of the ABA.
Funeral arrangements for Gilliam haven't been announced yet.
